The garden oil

Luke 22:39-44

39  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40  On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41  He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

The Garden of Gethsemane is situated at the base of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This historic location holds immense significance in Christian theology as the place where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane following the Last Supper. It was there that Jesus prayed fervently to God, expressing His anguish about the suffering and death that awaited Him. Despite His distress, Jesus submitted to God's will, saying, "Not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 In this garden, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and subsequently arrested by the religious authorities. The events at the Garden of Gethsemane mark a significant moment in Jesus' journey to the cross, highlighting His obedience and unwavering commitment to fulfilling God's redemptive plan for humanity.

More importantly, Gethsemane, a notable biblical site, denotes the peaceful garden in which Jesus fervently prayed on the eve preceding his crucifixion. Jesus was praying so fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane due to the immense weight of the impending sacrifice he was about to endure for the redemption of humanity. The weight was so enormous that Jesus was literally sweating blood. Even more interesting is the word Gethsemane. It comes from the Hebrew roots of “Gat” which means “to press or an olive press” and “Shemen” which means “olive oil”. When we put these two words together we see “Gatshemen” or “Gethsemane”. So in other words, just as olives must be crushed to release their oil, Jesus was the Holy oil that was pressed out through his suffering and the crushing of His life.

Furthermore, oil in the Old and New Testament holds symbolic significance and represents various meanings. It is often associated with anointing and consecration, signifying the empowerment and blessing of God upon individuals for a specific purpose. Oil is also a symbol of abundance, healing, and joy in the Scriptures. Furthermore, oil is used to depict the presence of the Holy Spirit and spiritual richness in the lives of believers at its highest level of symbolism. The significance of oil in the Bible underscores its importance in conveying God's favor, strength, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His people.

Prayerful Thought:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are attentive to their cry. Psalm 34:15 

And Remember…….

“ The most powerful thing you can do right now is to be patient while things are unfolding for you!”

“May the peace and grace of the Lord always be with you” - Dr Lee